To end the MLB trade deadline, the Rangers acquired Texas native Mike Adams, a right-handed pitcher from the San Diego Padres. In return, they gave up two prospects in Robbie Erlin as well as Joe Wieland. Wieland definitely helped this trade go through after pitching a no-hitter in his last outing.

Adams has gone 3-1 this season with a 1.13 ERA allowing just six earned runs over 48 innings in 48 appearances of relief for the San Diego Padres. He has recorded only nine walks and has struck out 49 batters. He has one save in 23 holds and has completed five games. His 1.13 ERA is the third lowest in the Majors among relief pitchers and the second in the NL. He has held opponents to a .197 on-base percentage, which only ranks him behind Sergio Romo of the San Francisco Giants and the Rangers newcomer and now fellow teammate Koji Uehara.

For those of you that are unhappy that Heath Bell didn’t make his way to the Rangers in the place of Mike Adams, don’t be. Heath Bell would have unlikely stayed with the Rangers after this season as he was headed into free agency while Adams will be a Rangers at least through 2012 unless something happens between now and then. Plus, Adams really is the better pitcher.

The Rangers may also be thinking into the future a little bit. Grabbing Bell could mean that they lose their addition (just like last season with Cliff Lee) leaving a hole in their bullpen. If the Rangers decide to move Feliz around and possibly into starting rotation, the Rangers will need a solid closer to fill the shoes of Neftali and Adams may be that man – who will be there next year and not a free agent. All in all, good trade in my eyes.

The addition of Mike Adams and Koji Uehara have definitely improved their bullpen significantly and I’d like to say has diminished any bullpen concerns that the Rangers would have had this second half of the season. With these additions, I can safely say that they are well on their way to another playoff berth…and hopefully a World Series win this go-around!

What are your thoughts? What do you think about these late-inning editions? It’s definitely a fearsome trio in Koji Uehara, Mike Adams and Neftali Feliz (on his good days)!

Various sources have reported that the Texas Rangers have acquired 36-year-old setup man Koji Uehara from the Baltimore Orioles for first/third baseman Chris Davis and right-handed pitcher Tommy Hunter. The Rangers have provided the O’s two very young players in their mid-twenties with tons of potential for a much older setup man.

While Uehara has had a fantastic season posting an incredible 1.72 ERA over 47 innings with 62 strikeouts. However, the Rangers weren’t in the need of a setup man – they needed a closer. Uehara does have experience as a closer, though, having recorded 13 saves last year even though he was on the disabled list for two months. (more…)